The Muslim study organisation, Ibn Rushd has been approved as a study association entitled to state funding in Sweden. After a trial period, Ibn Rushd has joined the Swedish adult education family, which now consists of nine study associations receiving financial support from the state and local authorities.

To be approved as a study association in Sweden an association needs to have several member organisations based on popular movements. Ibn Rushd was founded by the Islamiska förbundet i Sverige (Muslim Association in Sweden) in 2001, and now has nine member organisations, including the Islamiska Förbundet i Sverige, the Muslim Scouts of Sweden and Islamic Relief.
Ibn Rushd´s activities focus on social issues, integration and democracy. One of its aims is to help young people from Muslim backgrounds to become sound and independent citizens. The association also wants to increase the involvement of Muslim women in Swedish society.

The name Ibn Rushd comes from the Muslim philosopher, Ibn Rushd (1126-1198), better known in Europe under the name Averroës.

"Ibn Rushd is a symbol of education and diversity. He worked in Spain and even today is the foremost interpreter of Aristotle, as well as having been an important Muslim theologian. Ibn Rushd brought the intellectual worlds of Islam and the West closer together," says a spokesperson for the organisation.

"For us to get a new study association entitled to state funding in 2008 is a boost for education as a whole. Ibn Rushd will create opportunities for new groups to participate in adult education activities", thinks Torsten Friberg, Chairman of the Folkbildningsrådet, the Swedish National Council of Adult Education, which allocates the state funding to the study associations.

(INFOnet)